Helm performs well as Zetterberg sub, Meech remains in limbo, and Zetterberg's likely to sit for a bit

Darren Helm played a total of seven minutes and four seconds on the Red Wings' fourth line, firing three shots on the net and registering one hit while technically filling in for the injured Henrik Zetterberg against the Vancouver Canucks. As DetroitRedWings.com's Michael Caples notes, Helm maximized his ice time:

Helm, who played in 18 post-season games last spring, isn't your average AHL call-up. The 21-year-old center is not on the Wings' NHL roster only because of team depth, not because of a lack of skill on Helm's part. He looked good in his first game back with the big league club, skating for 7:04 worth of ice time and finishing with an even plus/minus. He had his fair share of chances though, including when he actually jumped around defenseman Sami Salo and got a good shot on goal. Moments later, he used his terrific speed to chase down the Vancouver defense on their breakout, pick someone's pocket, and then create another scoring chance which resulted in a Vancouver penalty.

GM Ken Holland told the Detroit Free Press's George Sipple that he made the best personnel decision he could, given the Wings' cap situation:

October 17, Detroit Free Press: Even though the Wings are up against the NHL's $56.7-million salary cap -- they couldn't recall anyone who makes more than $650,000 -- general manager Ken Holland said recalling Helm made the most sense.

"We want to put the best team we can on the ice," Holland said. "Zetterberg's a centerman. We wanted a centerman. We just played in the playoffs in May and June, and Darren Helm played very well for us. I think we said all along there are a whole lot of issues (regarding roster spots). In Darren Helm's case, I want him to play. I don't want him to be the 13th forward, at 21, being in the press box. Now that Zetterberg is hurt, I don't mind Helm being up here. If he doesn't play here, we send him to the minors and he plays."

Helm, at $600,000, was an option, while 25-year-old Finnish rookie Ville Leino, at $875,000, was not. The Wings could have saved cap space by using defenseman Derek Meech, who has been a healthy scratch in the first three games, as a fourth-line winger. Meech has played forward in a pinch before, but Holland said that would have necessitated too much reshuffling of the forward lines, and team officials want to see Helm play anyway.

"Obviously, you always want to get in the lineup," Meech said after the Thursday morning skate. "Helm and Leino were in camp, and they were battling for a job to get up here, playing the forward position. I understand the situation. Getting Helm game time is really key for his career, his development. I just gotta stay patient."

I agree with Holland regarding Helm's status--at this point, Helm and Leino need to play, and the Griffins provide a much better opportunity for significant minutes than Mike Babcock can offer the duo, but the club's plans for Derek Meech become murkier by the day. When Darren McCarty and Chris Chelios come off the long-term IR, the Wings will have to clear cap space, and at this point, I'd argue that the team will attempt to sneak Meech or McCarty through waivers and send them down for 30 days (after which they're subject to re-entry waivers).

Coach Mike Babcock remains certain that Helm has a future in Detroit, as he told the Detroit News's Dave Dye:

As far as Zetterberg's concerned, every indication suggests that the Wings will use their three-day post-Rangers game break to give him time to rest and recover, and the Red Wings' extremely cautious medical staff may hold him out until next Friday's game vs. the Atlanta Thrashers if they feel a full week's rest is warranted:

Zetterberg left Wednesday's practice early when he felt some discomfort after taking a shot. He also didn't participate in a skate Thursday morning.

"This morning when he came in, he was sorer than yesterday," coach Mike Babcock said Thursday. "We were hoping it was going to be the opposite way. We always say with groins it's day-to-day, but what I find with groins is there's 10 days in the day-to-day process."

Pavel Datsyuk, the Wings' other superstar center, also missed about a week of training camp because of a nagging groin problem. Groin injuries, often unpredictable as far as recovery, are common for hockey players because of the constant skating motion.

Selfishly speaking, I'm going to the Wings-Thrashers game, so I hope he comes back by next Friday.